Date?

Shi Yen began to devour her food without reserve.

Yuan Shun watched her with slight amusement, invested in how she chewed impolitely without caring how she appeared. She had a piece of braised pork on her cheek, so he took a napkin, wiping her face gently for her. Shi Yen looked at him, stunned.

He lowered his hand, returning to his own dishes. He then placed a piece of roasted chicken in his mouth, stealing glances at her.

"How's your family?" he questioned.

Shi Yen cut through another piece of meat, not sure how to go around the family topic without telling him which family she's from. "It's just my sister and me," Shi Yen replied.

Yuan Shun was slightly stunned; that sentence alone, almost told him everything about her. She seemed to be cold and distant, and yet, her eyes told him that there was more to her than she was letting on.

"I'm sorry," he replied.

Shi Yen shook her head. "It's not your fault." It was true. It wasn't his fault that her parents are gone, leaving her and Shi Ailin behind. She does, however, blame him for the collapse of the company, and she won't forget it. 

"I, too, have a sister," Yuan Shun said. He then went on to tell her about his sister, and it somehow comforted Shi Yen. She, too, was fond and protective of Shi Ailin, and without her, she wasn't sure where she'd be.

After talking for nearly a half-hour, Shi Yen realized that since being hell-bent on revenge, she had forgotten that Yuan Shun was an actual person. A person with feelings, who had a family and people he cared about. Like her, he loved and lost, and yet, she only thought about how to ruin him for years.

It made her feel guilty.

Don't forget what the Yuan's did, she thought. They took everything from you.

"Your sister seems to be a very pleasant person," Shi Yen said to him with a soft smile.

"Yes," he replied. "She's very gentle, quite the opposite of me."

It made Shi Yen smile. Same, she thought.

"You're not gentle, Mr. Yuan?" she questioned. "You don't come off as unpleasant," she strung the last word, unpleasant, with a flirtatious tone.

He then poured more wine in her glass. "I make enemies of many influential people, but I don't fear their empty threats." He then locked eyes with her. "If I see something I want. I take it."

Shi Yen shivered slightly, but not to fear, to something else entirely. She couldn't help but wonder why she was finding more things in common with him instead of anything useful.

"Yes. I've heard, Mr. Yuan. You are quite the person who lives up to his name," she replied, prim and proper.

He looked at her directly, seriously. "Are you afraid?"

Shi Yen looked back at him with a sly grin. "Not at all," she replied smoothly. He may be cruel, but she was wicked.

Yuan Shun chuckled briefly. "I'm glad, Yen."

They finished up their meals, indulging themselves in more wine and conversation. Yuan Shun spoke about his business, and she spoke part of hers. Shi Yen ran a beauty line, but that's not all she does. She's made many property investments, owning and renting houses, venues, and buying out game-themed spots. But she hired people to handle the maintenances, customer services, running the business as she ran her beauty company. She only told him about the beauty part because he, too, owned properties that competed with hers.

After they finished, both Yuan Shun and Shi Yen heard music pumping through the walls of the nightclub across the street.

"Do you want to go?" Yuan Shun suggested.

Shi Yen widened her eyes. But she then nodded, smiling sheepishly, tipsy.

Yuan Shun paid for their evening, and he grasped her hand, running across the street.

They were let into the nightclub immediately, flushed and a little drunk.

The vibrant music compelled them to move together near the centre of the floor. Partners and couples danced close and intimately, leaving a small space to dance against the raging sound.

Yuan Shun grasped her hips, pulling her close to him.

Shi Yen moved along with him. She knew how to dance, and she loved it.

She slowly and gracefully stepped closer, nearly pressing against him. Shi Yen then hooked her arms around him, moving along him, loosening her nerves.

She tilted her head back, feeling the music rattle her bones.

Yuan Shun took one of her hands, twirling her around before tucking her against his body.

Shi Yen couldn't help but roam her hands on his shirt, feeling the taut, hard muscle beneath.

He trailed one of his hands from her back to the nape of her neck, and she titled her head back again, closing her eyes slightly. He then trailed his other hand on the delicate part of her neck, down to her collarbone, brushing her skin smoothly.

Their hands were on each other, exploring each other.

Yuan Shun pulled apart from her to dance separately at the sudden change of sounds. He then carefully moved towards her again, and Shi Yen did the same, smiling at him bashfully as she swayed. She didn't know what overcame her, but she was having fun, genuinely.

Yuan Shun approached her so closely that their breaths mingled; their eyes met.

He then suddenly retook her hand, leading her towards a more private part of the nightclub.

Yuan Shun didn't pin her against the wall like that man did earlier that evening; instead, he leaned back himself, drawing her against him. He wanted her to make a move, to permit him to kiss her.

Shi Yen knew what he wanted, and some part of her wanted it, too. He was tall and handsome; his dark hair, his sharp jaw, and his depthless eyes struck her in awe. What was she thinking? She didn't understand. Shi Yen then gazed into his glossy russet eyes, feeling lost in them, moving closer.

He bowed his head near her face, colliding their gazes intensely, waiting for her.

Shi Yen was breathing hard. She then gritted her teeth, knowing she shouldn't be doing this.

And yet, she took his face in her hands, kissing him on the lips frantically. Yuan Shun responded immediately, pulling her by her hips, opening his mouth and hers, clashing their mouths, their tongues.

He cupped her head with one of his hands, while the other traced her waist. Shi Yen pushed him against the wall, pulling his collar, deepening their frenzied kiss. She didn't understand why she was this responsive to his touch and why she felt so sensitive and intoxicated by him.

He caressed her cheek gently and then Shi Yen pulled apart from him, catching her breath.

Yuan Shun's eyes and dazed expression told her that he felt it too, the surge of electricity, the desire.

"Can you take me home?" she said. It wasn't an invitation. She needed to go home and clear her head.

Yuan Shun nodded. "Of course," he replied.

He then led her out of the nightclub, heading towards the parking lot to get to his car. They were already sober by the time they hopped in the vehicle.

She gave him her address, and the car ride back home was silent but comfortable. Shi Yen had a lot to wrap around her head.

It was one night. She kissed him despite herself. It had to be the alcohol. But, no. She did this on her own accord.

Something then hit her. She kissed him. Should she tell him that she was Shi Yenni? Would he be repulsed? Would that make her feel victorious if he looks at her with disdain? But, no…she decided that it would be best to forget about it and never mingle with him again.

When they arrived, Yuan Shun helped her out of the car, walking her towards the front door.

"Thank you," she said to him.

Yuan Shun looked at her with a slight grin. He approached her closely. "I hope you had a great evening, Shi Yenni."

Shi Yen froze.

She turned around with widened eyes, suddenly at a loss for words. "I—what—how?" she stammered.

Yuan Shun bent down slightly; he hovered over one ear. "You think I wouldn't know the person who asked about me, who wanted to find out my secrets, my enemies, to use it against me."

Shi Yen shivered slightly. She couldn't believe it! She thought she was in the lead, taking him by surprise. Instead, he was a step ahead of her, beating her at her own game. He knew who she was!

Yuan Shun looked at her directly. "This was fun, Yenni. Truly. I didn't think you'd kiss me," he teased her playfully.

Shi Yen gritted her teeth. "It's Yen."

Yuan Shun titled his head back and laughed.

"You're insufferable!" she spat.

He bent forward, making sure their eyes met. "I know you, Yen," he said husk, soft, and sweet. "But I also know you keep secrets, too. And I want to know them. I want to know what you'd do to me, given the opportunity. Out of all the enemies I make, you're the most interesting, and there are plenty of them," he admitted, his breath caressing her cheek.

Shi Yen furrowed her brows. "I want to kick your ass!" she said.

"Cute," he replied, tucking his hands in his pocket, wearing a roguish grin.

Shi Yen puffed up her cheeks, truly appalled. She then marched away from him.

Yuan Shun began to walk away, too. "Goodnight, Yen," he said smoothly, waving one hand.

Shi Yen bit down a flush, stepping into the house.

Shizi greeted her with licks and a wagging tail, and Shi Ailin swept in front of her. "Where have you been?"

"I had to deal with something," Shi Yen replied bitterly.

"Huh?" Shi Ailin questioned.

"I had to meet with someone," she said. "Don't worry about it. I've dealt with it."

Shi Ailin looked at her with concern, not sure if everything was all right. She knew that Shi Yen kept things from her, and she wished that she opened up to her.

Shi Yen then carried Shizi back to her room. She quickly washed up and changed, slumping on the bed. Shi Yen then buried her face in the pillow. That Yuan Shun was a beast! She never felt so embarrassed and caught off guard!

She shifted in her bed, thinking of a way to get him back.